Protesters Sue Police over Rights Violations

Nine anti-Israel protesters have filed a federal lawsuit against the Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Capitol Police, claiming their constitutional rights were violated during a demonstration outside the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters last November. The lawsuit, initiated by the Civil Rights Corps in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, stems from a protest on November 15, where over 100 individuals gathered to voice their opposition to the war in Gaza. The plaintiffs allege that police employed a controversial tactic known as "kettling," which involves cornering protesters and using chemical irritants to disperse them. Specific accusations include officers choking two protesters with keffiyehs and physically assaulting others, with one plaintiff, Sam Rise, reporting a spinal injury resulting from being "shoved, dragged, thrown, and body slammed." The lawsuit contends that the police actions violated the First and Fourth Amendments, as well as the First Amendment Assemblies Act, which mandates clear dispersal orders before arrests. The protesters assert they were peacefully demonstrating and not obstructing the DNC entrance when police intervened without warning. In response to the incident, D.C. police have refrained from commenting on the ongoing lawsuit, while a Capitol Police spokesperson indicated that the protesters ignored instructions to vacate the area, where House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was present. The clash reportedly resulted in injuries to six officers, while the plaintiffs claim to have suffered psychological trauma in addition to physical injuries.